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Catholic Teachers in Ghana Join Bishops in Resisting Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Delegates of the Association of Catholic Teachers in Ghana at Torve in the Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Volta Region, Ghana on October 14, 2019

Weeks after Catholic Bishops in Ghana expressed their opposition to the proposed Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) describing it as “a subtle way to introduce this gay and lesbian thing to our children,” the Association of Catholic Teachers in the West African country (ACT) has also voiced its resistance to the syllabus saying that it does not conform with the culture of Ghanaians.

“We join the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) and other well-meaning Ghanaians in telling the Ghana Education Service (GES) and for that matter, the government that we do not (subscribe) to the Comprehensive Sexuality Education,” ACT said in a statement seen by ACI Africa.

In the considered view of the members of ACT, topics being proposed in CSE and the age group of those to be exposed to them are “not in conformity with the culture of the African and for that matter the Ghanaians (sic).”

The teachers are also concerned that the CSE’s scope and span is unlimited and thereby offering loopholes for any other entity to introduce new material into the syllabus.

“The unlimited scope and span (comprehensiveness) would create room for anything to be introduced into the said CSE by interested groups or individuals,” the teachers observed their October 14 statement.

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The Catholic teachers have also pleaded with the heads of schools to be watchful of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as they may be used to actualize the CSE saying, “We appeal to heads of schools to be vigilant about the activities of Non-Governmental Organisations that may be used to execute this agenda.”

Earlier in the month, Civil Society and Faith-Based Organisations including the Office of the National Chief Imam (ONCI) were among various entities that expressed opposition to CSE.

GES moved in to refute claims that the proposed CSE is an attempt to inculcate students into same sex matters.

Speaking to this claim of homosexuality, the Catholic teachers have argued, “It is regrettable that the Minister for Education tried to deny its inclusion in the new curriculum in his response to the criticisms on the said topic when in actual fact it is clearly captured in page eleven (11) of the Teacher’s Resource Pack.” 

The teachers have added, “We call on the Minister to immediately apologize to the Catholic Bishops and other groups or individuals who expressed such concerns and call for a proper round table discussion on the matter and immediately tell Ghanaians the actual position of government on this controversial issue.”

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The Government of Ghana and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched the CSE programme this year claiming that the move aimed at empowering adolescents and young people to deepen their scope of existing activities to attain an understanding of sexuality comprehensively.

CSE, which is also known as “Our right, Our lives, Our Future” programme is supported by the governments of Sweden and Ireland.